Book-support.



No. 816,507. PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906. E. SMBRING. BOOK SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19, 1905.

% Inventor TINTTED STATES PATENT OEETGE.

EDWARD SMER-ING, OF CHESTER, SOUTH CAROLINA.

BOOK-SUPPORT.

Original application filed September 7,1904, Serial No. 223,5 83.

To all w/wrn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD SMERING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chester, in the county of Chester and State of South Carolina, have invented a new and useful Book-Support, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to book-supports, and is designed for supporting books and the like upon inclined surfacessuch, for instance, as the inclined top of a desk, either fixed or tiltable, as shown in my copending application filed September 7, 1904, Serial No. 223,583, of which this is a divisional application.

It is furthermore designed to have the device normally flush with the top of the desk, so as not to obstruct the latter, and at the same t me capable of being projected a suitable distance above the top of-the desk, so as to form a ledge against which the bottom edges of books may be engaged, and thereby beheld against slipping off of the desk-top at the bottom edge thereof.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inclined desk-top provided with one embodiment of the present invention wherein two spaced book-supporting ledges are employed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing another embodiment including a single ledge. Fig. 3isalongitudinal sectional view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustratng the tongue-and-groove conijecltion between the adjustable ledge and the es r.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in each and every figure of the drawings.

In explanation of the application and operation of the present invention there has been included in the accompanying drawings a desk-top 1, which may be adjustably tiltable or fixed, as desired, the desk illustrated being a tiltable school-desk.

iVhile two embodiments of the invention have been shown in the drawings, they differ only in the fact that in the form shown in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27, 1906.

Divided and this application filed January 19,1905. Serial No. 241,846.

Fig. 1 two comparatively short spaced ledges are employed and in Fig. 2 only one comparatively long ledge is used. Otherwise the mounting of the ledges is precisely the same. In applying the invention as in Fig. 1 a pair of slots or recesses 2 are formed transversely in the top of the desk at opposite sides of the center thereof adjacent the lower edge of the top of the desk and in transverse alinement, there being a finger-notch 3 at the inner end of each seat or recess. Within each recess there is snugly fitted an open-top metallic frame 4, which is provided in one side with a longitudinal groove or channel 5, which inclines upwardly from one end of the frame to the other. Within the frame is an endwise-shiftable bar or ledge 6, somewhat shorter in length than the frame and provided with a tongue 7, working in the groove 5, whereby the ledge is projected above the top of the desk when moved to the high end of the groove, as in Fig. 1, and is withdrawn to a position flush with the top of the desk at its opposite limit, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, so as to avoid obstructing the top of the desk. The purpose of the fingernotch 3 is to facilitate the engagement of the finger or other device with one end of the ledge when it is desired to move the latter into its projected position.

When employing a comparatively long ledge, as indicated at 8 in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the only difference in the mounting of the ledge resides in the provision of two inclined grooves or channels 5*, one at each end of the frame, the ledge 8 of course being provided with two tongues 7 a to work in respective grooves. Otherwise the device is precisely the same as that first described.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the device of the present invention is exceedingly simple and at the same time effective for the purpose designed, and it may be very conveniently applied to the top of a desk without material change therein beyond the formation of a slot or socket to receive the frame and the ledge. l/Vhen not in use, the ledge is withdrawn into the socket flush with the top of the desk in order that the latter may be entirely free from obstructions, and it may be very conveniently brought into position for use by inserting the finger in the finger-notch 3 and sliding the ledge endwise, which will result in the elevation of the ledge through the medium of the inclined tongue-and-groove connection between the latter and the desk.

Having fully described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A book-support comprising a base, and a book-supporting ledge slidable within the base and provided with an inclined tongueand-groove connection with the base to elevate and depress the ledge, the top of the base being provided with a finger-notch intersecting one end of the recess to give access to the ledge for sliding the same endwise to project above the top of the base.

2. A book-support comprising a base having a recess intersecting the upper surface thereof, one wall of the recess being provided with a groove inclined to the vertical, and a book-supporting ledge slidably mounted within the recess and provided with a tongue working in the groove, the top of the base being provided with a finger-notch intersecting one end of the recess to give access to the ledge for sliding the same endwise to project above the top of the base.

3. A book-support comprising a base having a recess intersecting the upper surface thereof, one wall of the recess being provided with a groove inclined to the vertical, and a book-supporting ledge slidable within the recess and provided with a tongue working in the groove, the ledge being projected above the base at one limit of its movement and flush with the upper surface of the base at its opposite limit, the upper surface of the base having a finger-notch terminally intersecting the recess at that end thereof which is adjacent the lower end of the groove.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD SMERING.

Witnesses:

S. KENNEDY, THOS. N. BERRY. 

